Four Seasons

Valli took his most famous stage name after country singer Texas Jean Valley, who often referred to Frankie as her "brother."

The label of every single they released on Phillips records, except "Dawn (Go Away)," states: "featuring The Sound of Frankie Valli."

Valli's real name is Frank Castelluccio. He cut a couple of solo singles, most notably "My Mother's Eyes," as Frankie Valley in 1953-54, before forming the Varietones in 1955. By 1956, the Varietones had gone through a few name changes before settling on the Four Lovers. That year, they produced an LP, two EPs, and five singles for RCA. By 1958, the Four Lovers went their separate ways. Frankie was a solo act again, first releasing a single, "I Go Ape," under the name of Frankie Tyler. The record did not chart.

The group's first chart single (in 1956) was #68 "You're the Apple of My Eye," written by Otis Blackwell and given to them to record after they had another Blackwell song, "Don't Be Cruel," taken from them as they prepared to record it.

Producer/director Bob Crewe heard the "I Go Ape" single and met Frankie, and both men agreed upon a framework for the new act. The Four Lovers were taken out of mothballs and hired as session musicians and background singers (they even released a single of an Italian song, "Come Si Bella" by "Frankie Valle," and having a B-side credited to "Frankie Valle and the Romans"). Some of the acts that benefitted from their support on record are Bobby Darin, Danny and the Juniors, and Freddy Cannon.

In early 1959 (after releasing "Please Take a Chance" by Frankie Valley), the lead singer met Bob Gaudio, whose group The Royal Teens had hit the big time with "Short Shorts" the previous year. The Teens broke up shortly thereafter; Gaudio joined the Four Lovers as a keyboard player. The group's bassist -- Al Kooper -- became a star in his own right in the '60s.

Guess I never will know you better
Wish I knew you before I met her
Gee, how good you would be for me
Should have told you that I can't linger
There's a wedding band on my finger
She's got me and I'm not free so

Oh Dawn go away, back where you belong
Girl we can't change the places where we were born
Before you say that you want me

I want you to think what your family would say think what you're throwing away
Now think what the future would be with a poor boy like me

Repeat 5x Dawn, go away I'm no good for you

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I've Got You Under My Skin

Let's Hang On

Opus 17 (Dont You Worry)

Album:

2nd Vault of Gold Hits
(1966)

Song Details:

xx

Lyrics:

I can see
There ain't no room for me,
You're only holding out your heart in sympathy.
If there's another man,
Then girl I understand,
Go on and take his hand,
And don't you worry 'bout me.

I'll be blue,
And I'll be crying too,
But girl you know I only want what's best for you.
What good is all my pride
If our true love has died?
Go on and be his bride,
And don't you worry 'bout me.

I'll be strong,
I'll try to carry on,
But girl you know it won't be easy when you're gone.
I'll always think of you,
The tender love we knew,
But somehow I'll get through,
So don't you worry 'bout me.

Sweety pie,
Before you say goodbye,
Remember if he ever leaves you high and dry,
Don't cry alone in pain,
Don't ever feel ashamed
If you want me again,
Just don't you worry 'bout me.

I love you,
No matter what you do,
I'll spend my whole life waiting if you want me to.
And if this is goodbye,
You know I'd rather die
Then let you see me cry,
'cause then you'd worry 'bout me.

I'll be strong,
I'll try to carry on,
Although you know it won't be easy when you're gone.
I'll always think of you,
The tender love we knew,
But somehow I'll get through,
So don't you worry 'bout me.

I'll be strong,
I'll try to carry on,
Although you know it won't be easy when you're gone.
I'll always think of you,
The tender love we knew,
But somehow I'll get through,
So don't you worry 'bout me.

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Rag Doll

Album:

Rag Doll
(1964)

Song Details:

xx

Lyrics:

When she was just a kid her clothes were hand me downs
They always laughed at her when she came into town
Called her rag doll, little rag doll
Such a pretty face should be dressed in lace

I'd change her sad rags into glad rags if I could
My folks won't let me cause they say that she's no good
She's a rag doll, such a rag doll
Though I love her so I can't let her know

Rag doll, I love you just the way you are

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Ronnie

Album:

Rag Doll
(1964)

Song Details:

xx

Lyrics:

I'll go on living and keep on forgiving
Because you were my first love

So very warm and tender the way you loved me
Hey girl can't you remember and want more of me
Ronnie Ronnie Ronnie why did you go
Ronnie Ronnie Ronnie I am regretting but can't stop forgetting
Because you were my first love

You say now you don't need me because I cheated
Why didn't you believe me when I repeated
Ronnie Ronnie Ronnie you'll never know
Ronnie Ronnie Ronnie I'll go on living and keep on forgiving
Because you were my first love

I walk alone I cry at home
Night after night
Day after day
Oh I never cheated
Oh I still repeat it
Ronnie Ronnie Ronnie you'll never know
Ronnie Ronnie Ronnie I'll go on living and keep on forgiving
Because you were my first love

repeat to fade I'll go on living and keep on forgiving
Beacuse you were my first love

(Why don't you come out) With your red dress on
(Come out) Mmm you look so fine
(Comeout) Move it nice and easy
Girl, you make me lose my mind

Repeat to fade: Sherry, sherry baby

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Walk Like A Man

Album:

Big Girls Don't Cry and Twelve Others...
(1963)

Song Details:

xx

Lyrics:

Walk like a man

Oh how you tried to cut me down to size
Telling dirty lies to my friends
But my own father said give her up don't bother
The world isn't coming to an end

(he said it) Walk like a man
Talk like a man
Walk like a man my son
No woman's worth
Crawling on the earth
So walk like a man my son

Good-bye baby I dont mean maybe
I'm gonna get along somehow
Soon you'll be cryin on account of all your lyin
Oh yeah just look who's laughing now

(I'm gonna) walk like a man
Fast as I can
Walk like a man from you
I'll tell the world forget about it girl
And walk like a man from you

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Working My Way Back To You

Album:

The Four Seasons Working My Way Back to You
(1966)

Song Details:

xx

Lyrics:

Working my way back to you babe
With a burning love inside
Yeah I'm working my way back to you babe
With a happiness that died
I let it get away, paying every day

When you were so in love with me
I played around like I was free
Thought I could have my cake and eat it too
Oh how I cried over losing you

For every day I made you cry
I'm paying girl til the day that I die
I'll keep working my way back to you babe
With a burning love inside
I'm working my way back to you babe
With a happiness that died
I let it get away, payin every day

I used to love to make you cry
It made me feel like a man inside
But if I'd been a man in reality
You'd still be here babe lovin me

Now the nights are long and lonely
And I'm not too strong babe I just miss you so
And you're too proud, won't give in
But when I think about all I could win

I keep working my way back to you babe
With a burning love inside
I'm working my way back to you babe
With a happiness that died
I let it get away, payin every day

yeah yeah yeah

Working my way back to you babe
With a burning love inside
I'm working my way back to you babe
WIth a happiness that died oh how I'm cryin
Working my way back to you babe
With a burning love inside

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90's Hits

December 1963 (Oh What a Night)

Album:

Who Loves You
(1975)

Lyrics:

Oh, what a night, late December back in '63
What a very special time for me
As I remember what a night!

Oh what a night,
You know I didn't even know her name
But I was never gonna be the same
What a lady, what a night!

Oh, I got a funny feeling when she walked in the room
And I, as I recall it ended much too soon

Oh what a night,
Hypnotizing, mesmerizing me
She was everything I dreamed she'd be
Sweet surrender, what a night!

I felt a rush like a rolling bolt of thunder
Spinning my head around and taking my body under

(Oh what a night!)

Oh, I got a funny feeling when she walked in the room
And I, as I recall it ended much too soon